Apparatus for preserving beer



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. HANLON, OF ALLENTOVVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING BEER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,958, dated March 30, 1886.

Application filed July 16, 1885. Serial No. 171,740. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN J. HANLON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allentown, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus for Preserving Beer, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of certain improvements in the construction of that class of liquor-barrels which are provided with collapsible tubes and diaphragms,.to permit of the liquor being drawn off without access of ai rthereto, as more full y described hereinafter.

The view in the accompanying drawing is a vertical section of an ordinary bellied barrel to which my improvements have been applied.

D is the collapsible tube, the upper end of which is secured with a tight joint between the head A, of the barrel A and the staves, while the lower end of the tube is secured to the diaphragm B. The head A is provided with a central opening, a, which admits air within the interior of the collapsible tube D, so as to afford the necessary pressure for the drawing off of the beer or other liquor, while the collapsible tube D, with its diaphragm, prevents such air from having access to the contents of the barrel.

To facilitate the filling of the barrel with the liquor, I provide the diaphragm B with a flexible cord, 11, which passes up through the central opening, a, in the head A, so that the diaphragm may be thereby drawn back to the head of the barrel, and, owing to the flexibility of the cord, the latter may be coiled upon the top thereof, without increasing the bulk of the barrel, for the purpose of transportation.

In order to prevent the diaphragm B from wedging or jamming in the tapered end of the barrel when drawn back, I provide a hoop or ring, 0, for the diaphragm B to abut against. so that as the beer or other liquor is drawn off through the spigot the diaphragm will desccnd under the pressure of the atmosphere.

I am aware that liquor'barrels have heretofore been provided with collapsible tubes and diaphragms, and that such diaphragms have also been provided with devices to withdraw them back to the ends of the barrels, as illustrated, for instance, in the British Patent No. 2,096 of 1865. I therefore do not claim these features, broadly; but

I claim as my invention-- 1. The combination of the barrel with' a collapsible tube and diaphragm, free to descend under atmospheric pressure as the liquor is drawn off from the barrel, and a flexible cord, I), to draw the diaphragm back to the end of the barrel, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the diaphragm and collapsible tube with a bellied barrel having a stop-ring, e, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. HANLON.

\Vitnesses:

DALLAS DILLINGER, THOMAS HANLON. 

